Marine propulsion apparatus



3 Sheelts-Shee. l

D. F. ASBURY Filed Aug.

s i.. awa M1 A MARINE PROPULSION APPARATUS ID. F. ASIBRY MARINE PROPULSION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 wm. um 1,5m@

D. F. ASBURY MARINE PROPULSION APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Shea?. 3

Filed ,Aug- 1e 1922 mig DORSEY E'. ASBY, OF WS iGTUN, DSTRICT UF CLUMBM.

INE PRPULSIN APPARFLTU@ Application tiled ugust 1G, 1822. Serial No. Bitd.

To all whom t may concern. Be. it known tha-t ll, Dossier F. Aseos?, a citizen of the United States and resident of ldashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Marine Pro-pulsion Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. lily invention relates to marine propulsion apparatus, and has particular reference to improvements in outboard or portable motors of. the type. disclosed in my prior application, `Frei-iai Number 469.822, my present purpose being to retain all the advantages of the general mechanism disclosed in my prior apparatus, and to simplify, refine and provide desirable additions in and to the same, to the end of producing a submergible outboard motor which is practical, inexpensive, smooth running, quiet and' thoroughly reliable and eilicient in operation.

llilith the foregoing general purpose in view and vwith theY object of producing numerous other more speciiic improvements to be subsequently referred to, my inven tion consists in the novel features of construction, co-mbination andy arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings 'and particularly defined in the appended claims.

ln the drawings wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the. different viewse Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through my complete propelling apparatus showing the same connected to a craft;

F ig. 2, a bottom plan 'of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an enlarged section of a portion of the crank shaft and crank case showing a preferred means of excluding water from the latter;

Figs. f1 and 5, a detail perspective and a detail section` respectively, of adjacent interitting ends of the crank shaft sections;

Fig. 6, a horizont-al section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Figa 7, a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified arrangement for excluding water` l from the crank case; and

Fig. 8, a detail section on the line 8--8 of Fig. 1.

Referring now the drawings in detail, 1t will be observed that my improved propulslon apparatus consists essentially of an explosion moto-r A, including a cylinder 10, I piston 11, crank case 12, crank shaft 13,

connecting rod 14, and minor related parts x rlhis motor in the co to render it complete.` v present instance isof the well known single cylinder, two-cycle type and is shown merely that the disclosures of my invention may be as sinfiple as possible and thereby the more readily understood. manifest, however, that the number of cylinders together with the cycle of the motorand the specific construction of many of its diiilerent parts may be varied as desired, since my improvements may be in "tu corporated vwith equal facility in multiple cylinder and cycle motors as in the simple single cylinder two-cyclomotor shown.

is best illustrated in Fig. 1 of the draw ings, the motor A preferably is of the ver- 'te tical cylinder type and is adapted to operate when submerged, wherefore it has rigidly and directly connected thereto, as in my prior apparatus previously referred to, a pair of laterally extending blades 15 and a @il single downwardly disposed vertically extending blade 16 adapted to act against the water or other fluid in which the motor may be submerged to counteract vibrations due. to piston reciprocations, thereby to hold il@ the motor steady when it is running. ln addition said motor has rising from one side thereof, its front, a tubular column 17, housing1 a shaft 18 which latter is provided at its upper end with a hand wheel 19 and 90 at its lower end with a bevel gear 20 which meshes with a similar 'gear 21 on the crank shaft whereby the one shaft 18 is adapted for both starting and timing purposes, a

preferred form of 'timing device being 95 shown at 22 and being associated with the shaft directly beneath the hand wheel 19 whereby the latter serves as a covering and protector for the same.

Extending from the column 17, preferably 10@ at right angles or substantially right angles thereto, is a hollow tiller 23 which is in communica-tion with the tubular column whereby -air is supplied therethrough to the mixing valve 24 of the motor. rangement the operator of the apparatus may grasp the tiller in the usual manner to hold the motor steady when it is desired to start the same, and with the same hand may partially or fully close the air entrance im end of the tiller thereby to choke the air supply to Ithe ymotor and thus facilitate lthe llt will be to By this ar Wl starting operating. Furthermore, a shoulder saddle 25 is formed in the under side of the, tiller preferably adjacent to the column 17 to facilitate the manual transportation of the apparatus as an entirety when it i-s detached from the cr-aft B, said saddle consisting in its present embodiment of |a concaved surface shaped to t a persons shoulder andbeing disposed as shown vso that the motor of its own weight will tend to swing towards andfhug the back of the person .carrying the same wherezit niay be held steady by such person grasping the tiller 23.

The manner of connecting the apparatus with the craft B includes means `whereby the apparatus is supported for yieldable movement in all directions with respect to the craft, thereby further to enhance the effect of the blades 15 and 16 for reducing motor vibrations and preventing their transmission to the craft, said means consisting preferably lof a coil spring 26 and a pair of inherently adapted, respectively, to lsupport lthe weight of the apparatus and hold the same in correct relation with the craft. 'The specific location of the spring 2 6 and the manner of associating it with the craft and the apparatus is relatively unimportant but preferably it is located and associated as shown in-Fig. 1 of the drawings; that is, it is lvertically disposed with its upper end received by a socket in the under face of the tiller directly adjacent .to the column 17 while its lower end rests upon a surface of the craft `and receives a pin 28 extending upward from said surface whereby the yieldable movement of the apparatus at its upper end laterally with respect to the craft is limited.`

As is apparent this arrangement may be reversed by forming a socket inthe surface of the craft to receive the lower end of the spring and providing a pin upon 4the under side of the tiller to fit into the upper end'of the spring, while, if desired` the entire arrangement may be modified by formin extensions ont the craft and column respectively wherever convenient and locating the spring between them. Similarly, the specific location of the plates 27 and-the manner of associating them with the craft and apparatus may also be varied, but preferably the are secured, respectively, upon opposite sides of the skeg 29 of the craft with their face endsl extending inwardly beyond the latter so as to be disposed upon opposite sides of the motor A whereby they function to permit and at the same limit yielding movement of the lower portion of the apparatus, particularly the motor itself, laterally with respect to the craft. The inner face of either or both of these plates 27 is formedl with a pair of relatively lonresilient vplates 27` -gitudinally spaced lugs 30 which receive ably mounting the apparatus as set forth in the foregoing, it is important that means be provided to prevent accidental displacement of the same from its applied position upon the craft, and to this end'a protuberance 32`has been provided on the column 17 for disposition beneath a surface of the craft whereby it is necessary t'o move the apparatus laterally, to the rear in the present instance, before it may be lifted vertically away from the craft, which movement is necessary to disengage the spring 26 from the pin 28 and the lugs`31 from between the plates 27. To hold the protuberance beneath said craft surface a strap 33 is arranged in embracing relation with the spring 26, and an adjacent portion of the column 17 and as is apparent limits rearward movement of thecolumn with respect to the craft, while permitting' the same to yield in all other directions relative'thereto. In order to reduce the resistance of the motor against the water when the craft is under way, whereby' the progress of the latter will be substantially unimpeded despite the fact that the motor is submerged, the skeg 29 is tapered forwardly and shaped to conform in transverse sectlon to the exterior shape o f the cylinder 10 and crank case 12, whereby a stream line effect is' formed between the craft and the motor which to a considerable extent prevents water from backing up in front of the motor, and in order to eliminate entirely this latter posi sibility` the skeg has secured to the sides thereof a pair of plates 34 which bridge the space between the skeg and the motor and Whose outer surfaces conform to the shape of the skeg-and the cross sectional limits of the motor. Preferably these plates are pivoted to the skeg so that the water will cause them to swing towards-and lie j against the sides of ythe motor, when the craft is under way while offering no interference or obstruction to removal of the apparatus from orits attachment to the craft when the latter is at rest.

The crank shaft 13 extends rearwardly .l

d'll

l. ,5 il l. ,868 tilt depth which is coaxialv with the axis of the shaft. Mounted on said shaft for relative longitudinal sliding movement is the tubular inner end portion of a propeller shaft 38 which latter extends rearwardly through the cavity 35 and at its free end has suitably keyed thereon a propeller 39. A flattened recess 40 of a size and shape to slidably re ceive the extension 36 of the crank shaft is formed in the inner end of the tubular portion of the propeller shaft whereby this shaft and the crank shaft are keyed together and prevented from rotating relatively. 'llhus it is apparent that there is a telescoping relation between the crank and propeller shafts which permits the latter to be moved longitudinally with respect to the former while relative rotation of the same is at all'times prevented by reason of the extension 36 interfitting` with they recess 40.v

Threaded on the housing of the comparte ment or cavity 35 is a' cap 4l which serves to secure fixedly in place a. pair of flexible disks 42 and 43 of leather or other suitable material which are relatively spaced longitudinally with respect to the propeller shaft and which are disposed between a pair of relatively spaced abutment devices 44 and 45 which are formed on or secured to said shaft in any preferred manner. rlhe disks 42 and 43 are each provided with a central opening through which the propeller shaft extends with a neat running fit, and as shown the spacement between the disks and the abutments 44 and 45 is such that when the propeller shaft is at the limit of itsv forward longitudinal movement, as determined by contact or abutment of the inner end of its tubular portion with the adjacent end of the crank shaft, the abutment 44 is to all intents' and purposes out of contact titl with the disk 42 while the abutment 45 is just barely in contact with or permissibly even slightly out of Contact with the disk 43. On the other hand, when the propeller Shaft is vmoved a slight distance to the rear positive contact is established between the abutment 44 and disk 42 while the abut-- ment 45 correspondingly is moved positively out of contact with the disk 43. Normally the propeller shaft is maintained rearwardly disposed with respect to the crank shaft by an expansion coil spring 46 located in the bore 37 and bearing at its ends against the respective shafts whereby the condition last recited is established, When the motor is started, however, and rotation is imparted to the propeller the thrust of the latter against the water acts to move its shaft forwardly against t-he force of the spring 46 and thereby establishes the condition first recited` Associated in any preferred manner with the motor A is an exhaust manifold 47 which leads to a mumer 48', preferably though not necessarily located above the water line a; while connecting said manifold with the compartment or cavity 35. is a pipe 49 whereby exhaust products are caused to build up a pressure in the cavity when the motor is vin operation for the dual purpose of cooperating with the disks 42, 43 to prevent leakage of water around the crank shaft into the engine and for ejecting from the cavity any water of condensationy or other water which may in any' manner find its way into the same. lt has been determined that the pressure built up by the exhaust in the cavity is considerably greater than the press-ure of the water Surrounding the motor at the depth of the propeller shaft. Therefore. it is apparent that when the motor is in operation the greater pressure within than without the cavity prevents the leakage of water between the disks 42. 43 and the shaft 38, while, reversely. when the motor stopsand the exhaust pressure vanishes from the cavity, the greater pressure without than within the same causes thc disk 42 to be clamped in sealing engagement a gainst the abutment 44 thereby preventing' lthe. leakage of water around the shaft when the motor is idle` it being understood that immediately the motor stops the thrustof the propeller' ceases and the shaft 3S is moved to the rear under the influence of spring 46, which movementilbrings the abutment 44 into contact with l; the disk 42 with the resultant clamping and sealing engagement between these parts aforementioned.

Extending into and having' its inner open end located at the bottom of the cavity 35, and with its outer end-disposed exteriorly thereof and suitably bent or otherwise formed to prevent the entrance of water into the same at this point,v is a small tube 50, the purpose of which is to conduct from the cavity any water of condensation or leakage which may settle at the bottom of the same` the pressure built up by the exlili haust within the cavity when the motor is running serving to force such water through said tube as is apparent.

lirom the :foregoing description it is manifest that the means for preventing leakage of water into the engine and for riddine the `cavity 35 of any water which from one Ofi 43 is more or less secondary in this respect and functions primaril as a guard to eX- clude sand and other oreign matter from the working parts of the apparatus.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings is illustrated a slight modification of the aforementioned leakage preventing arrangement which consists of apair'of disks 42', 43 secured in fixed relation to the 'cavity housing and propeller shaft, respectively, and having a member 51 disposed therebetween whereby al four point Contact seal indicated at b, c, d and e is provided` to prevent leakage of water around the shaft when the motor is idle, the spring 46 serving to produce said seal and the thrust of the propeller serving to break the same as in the case of the arrangement first described, and in allother respects the operation of the two arrangements is substantially identical. y

I claim p f 1. In a propulsion apparatus, a fluid body, a shaft extending into said fluid body and carrying a propeller, and a seal preventing the leakage of fluid around said shaft when the propeller is idle, said seal being auto matically broken by the operation of the propeller when the latter is in operation.

2. In a propulsion apparatus, a Huid body` a shaft extending into said fluid body and carrying a propeller, a spring, a seal movable under the infiuence of said spring to prevent.

the leakage of fiuid around said shaft when the propeller is idle, and means whereby said seal is broken automatically by the thrust of the propeller when the latter is in operation.

3. In a propulsion apparatus, a shaft adapted to extend into a fluid body,\a propeller carried by said shaft, two seals, one

' of which is effective when the propeller is idle and the other when'the propeller is in operation to prevent the leakage of Huid around said shaft, and operating means common to both seals whereby the sealing effectiveness of one is nullified automatic'all is rendered positive.

'vent leakage of water around the shaft.

5. Marine propulsion apparatus including a longitudinally movable propeller shaft, means rendered effective by longitudinal movement of said shafty in one direction to form a seal preventing the leakage of water around the shaft when the prope ler is idle,

means rendered effective b longitudinal movement of said shaft in t e otherdirection to form a seal preventin the leakage of water around the shaft w en the propeller is running, and means for longitudinally moving said shaft.

6. Marinepropulsion apparatus including a propeller and a longitudinally movable propeller shaft, said shaft being movable to a predetermined limit in one direction by the propeller when the latter is in operation, spring means operable to move said shaft to and maintain the (samev at its limitI of movement in an opposite direction when the propeller is idle, and sealing devices rendered effective, respectively, by longitudinal movements of said shaft to prevent the leakage of water therearound.

7. Marine propulsion apparatus including a longitudinally 'movable propeller shaft, meansy normally holding said shaft at its limit of movement in one direction whereby a seal is formed preventing the leakage of water around the shaft when the propeller is idle, sai-d shaft being movable longitudinally under the influence of the thrust of the propeller when the latter is in operation to break said seal, and means whereby another seal is formed when said first mentioned seal is broken.

8. Marine propulsion apparatus including a propeller shaft, and independent devices alternately rendered effective by the propeller when the latter is idle and running, respectively, to prevent leakage of water around said shaft.

9. Marine propulsion apparatus including a longitudinally movable propeller shaft, a spring constantly urging said shaft towards its limit of movement in one direction, a pair of gaskets fixed with respect to said shaft, an abutment on said shaft engageable with one of said gaskets to form a seal preventing the leakage of water around the shaft when the latter is moved longitudinalwith to prevent the leakage of water therearound, means whereb one of said sealing devices 1s rendered e ective and the other 4ineffective, when the propeller is idle, and

means whereby the first mentioned sealing device is rendered ineffective and the other effective Whenthe propeller is running.

narines 11. Marine propulsion apparatus including a submergible motor having a crank shalt and a. crank case, said crank shaft including relatively slidable telescopng sections, means operated by sliding movement of one or said sections relative to the other to provide a seal preventing the leakage of water around said shaft into the crank case when the motor is idle, and exhaust operated means rendered edective by relative sliding movement of said sections to prevent the leakage ot water around said shaft when the motor is running.

12. ll/larine propulsion apparatus including a submergible motorl having a crank shalt and a crank case, a ortion of said crank shaft being longitudlnally movable, and means rendered edective by longitudinal movement or said crank shaft portion in one direction to provide a seal against the leakage oit water around said shaft into the crank case when the engine is idle.

13. Marine propulsion apparatus/including a submerged motor having a crank shaft and a crank case, a portion of sai-d crank shaft being longitudinally movable, means operating when the motor is idle to hold said movable crankshaft portion at its limit of movement in one direction, means operating when the motor is started and when running to hold said movable crank shalt at its limit of movement in the other lill an exit, and means.

direction, and independent devices alternately rendered edective by the aforementioned movements 'of said crank shaft to provide seals preventing the leakage of water around the crank shaft into thecrank case.

14:. Marine propulsion apparatus including a submergible explosion motor having a crank shaft case including' a cavity toreceive waters of condensation and leakage,

and means utilizing the exhaust from said motor to rid said cavity or water.

15. Marine propulsionapparatus inc-luding a submerged explosion motor havinr a crank case includin a chamber provi ed with a propeller sha t aperture, and means for the admissionot the exhaust from said motor to said chamber whereby the exhaust pressure prevents water leakage froml the exterior' through said propeller shaft aperture.

16. Marine propulsion apparatus including asubmerged explosion motor having a chamber ada ted to receive waters et condensation an leakage, said chamber having or exhaust from said motor to said chamber whereby the pressure of the exhaust acts to eject water trom said chamber through said exit.

17. Marine repulsion apparatus including a submergible explosion motor having a crank case including la cavity, an exhaust the admission of the haust acts to force any water which may leak! into said cavity outward therefrom through said tube, to thereby prevent the same from entering` the crank case.

18. Marine propulsion apparatus including a submerged explosion motor having a crank case including a cavity, and means utilizing the exhaust from the motor while the latter is running to raise the ressure in said cavity above the pressure o the water surrounding the motor whereby leakage or' water into the crank case is prevented.

19. Marine propulsion apparatus including a submerged explosion motor having a chamber adapted to receive waters of condensation and leakage, said chamber being provided with a propeller shaft aperture and with an exit, and means tor the admission of the exhaust from said motor to said chamber whereby the pressure of the exhaust prevents leakage Afrom the exterior through said propeller shaft aperture and acts to eject Water trom said chamber through said exit. l

20. Marine propulsion apparatus including a propeller shaft extending through an aperture, independent devices one of which ised'ective and the other ineil'ective to prevent leakage of Water through said aperture when the apparatus is idle` and `automatic means whereby said ineHec-tive device is rendered edective and said effective 'device is rendered ineffective to prevent leakage through said aperture when the apparatus is in operation. c

21. Marine propulsion apparatus includ'- ing a propeller shaft extending through au aperture, independent devices to prevent leakage ot' water through said aperture each consisting of a diaphragm and an abutment. means whereby one ol said devices is effective and theother ineffective to prevent leakage through said aperture when the apparatus is idle, and automatic means whereby said ineffective device is rendered effective and said ettective device is rendered inell'ective to prevent leakage through said aperture when the apparatus is in operation.

22. Marine propulsion apparatus including a submergible motor having a crank Shaft case and a cavity to receive waters of condensation and leakage.y a wall between` said cavity and said case having an opening, and means to'maintainthelevel otl water in said cavity below said opening thereby to prevent its entrance into `the crank case.

23. In marine propulsion apparatus. the combination with a craft. of a motor for propelling-the same, and a flexible strap counecting the motor with and holding the same llO 24. In marine propulsion app-aratus, the lcombination with a craft, of a motor for propelling the same, a vertically and laterally .yieldable support between the motor and craft, and a flexible strap retaining the motor upon the craft and acting to limit the yieldiig movement of said support.

25. n marine propulsion apparatus, the combination with a craft, of steering means for the same, a universally movable yieldable support between the craft and said steering. means,-and a flexible member retaining the steering means upon the craft and acting to limit the yielding movement of said support. v

V26. In marine propulsion apparatus, the combination with a craft, of steering means for the same including a column, a protuberance lon said column engageable under a portion of the craft to limit movement of said column relative to the craft in one direction, and means releasably retaining said column upon the craft and acting to hold said protuberance in operative relation therewith.

27. In marine, propulsion apparatus, an outboard boat motor including a steering column, a protuberance on said column engageable with a portion of the boat to limit movement of the motor relative thereto in one direction, and a fiexible strap releasably retaining the moto-r upon the boat and acting to hold said protuberance in operative relation, therewith.

28. In marine propulsion apparatus, the combination with a eraftof an outboard motor for propelling the same, and plural devices acting to hold the motor in prt-determined relation with respect to the cra ft, certain of said devicesbeing laterally resilient and the motor being vertically movable with respect to them. A

29. In marine propulsion apparatus, the combination with a craft, of an outboard motor for propelling the same, and a: pair of laterally resilient devices secured respectively to opposite sides of the craft for retaining the motor upon the same, said motor being vertically slidable between said devices.

y3.0. In marine propulsion apparatus, the combination with a craft, of an outboard motor for ypropelling the same, vertically resilient means` fo-r supportin the motor upon the craft, and other resilient means connecting the motor with and permitting slight lateral movement of the same relative 31. In marine propulsion apparatus, the combination with a craft, of an outboard motor for propelling the same, lugs extending respectively from opposite sides of said motor, a pair of laterally resilient arms extending respeotively'from opposite sides of .the craft and adapted to receive the motor ally with respect thereto, and a pair of spaced lugs on each of said arms adapted to receive therebetween the lugs on said motor whereby the latter may move fore and aft with respect to the craft and is limited in both directions of such movement.

32. In marine propulsion apparatus, the combination with a craft including a skeg, of a submerged motor adapted -to be disposed at the end land in juXt'a-position to said skeg for propelling said craft, said skeg and motor being of substantially the same shape in cross section.

83. Inmarine propulsion apparatus, the combination with a craft including a skeg, of a submerged motor 'adapted to bc disposed behind and in` junta-position to the skeg forpropelling said craft, said motor including a cylinder and a crank case, and said skeg being alined with and conforming in transverse section to the exterior shape of said cylinder and crank case.

34. In marine propulsion apparatus, the combination with a craft including a skeg, of a submerged motor, adapted to be located in juxta-position to said skeg for propelling and craft.

36'. In marine propulsion apparatus, the combination with a craft, of a submerged motor adapted to be retained upon the craft for propelling the same, and a pair of submerged pla-tes pivoted respectively to opposite' sides of the craft and bridging the space between the craft and the widest part of said motor to preserve a stream line effect between the motor and craft.

37. In marine propulsion apparatus, the combination with a craft including a skeg, of a submerged motor adapted to be disposed behind the skeg for propelling the craft, said skeg and moto-r being of substantially the same transverse shape, and a pair DoRsEY F. AsBUR l. 

